Grand 



ranama 




Lillie Gilliland McDowell 



GRANDMA 

A COLLECTION OF POEMS 

FOR CHILDREN AND 

GROWN-UPS 



BY 
LILLIE GILLILAND McDOWELL 



SECOND EDITION. REVISED 
AND ENLARGED 



COPYRIGHT BY AUTHOR 
1922 






^3lc\ ^^^jxhJr^jU-J ^hj^^JzO^C^ C^wJlpiA-v^ 3 






^ 






Dedicated to 
Mij Little Daughter Louise 

and Her Grandmother, 
Frances Cordelia McDowell 



©CI.A677985 

JUL 17 '22 



NOTE 

A number of the poems printed in this 
volume first appeared, under the author s 
name in St. Nicholas Magazine, The Farm- 
er's Wife, Our Little Ones, The Christian 
Science Monitor, The Kindergarten-Primaru 
Magazine, and Picture World, and are re- 
produced here Llj courteous permission of 
the publishers. — L. G. M. 



PHOTOGRAPHS BY 

ALVORD 
EMPORIA, KANSAS 



PEN SKETCHES BY 

L. L. SARGENT 

AND 

louise Mcdowell 



PRINTED BY CAPPER PRINTING COMPANY, TOPEKA, KANSAS 



Contents 



When Grandma Sews 8 

Grandma's Aprons 10 

Cuddle Time 12 

Grandma's Errands 13 

Grandma's Little Girl 14 

Herb Tea 16 

Tea at Grandma's 17 

When Grandma Knits 18 

A "Blue" Story 20 

Christmas Secrets 22 

Dancing Dolls 24 

Heigh-ho. 'Tis Her Way ! 26 

Girls Will Be Girls 27 

When Grandma Comfys Me 28 

Out At Grandma's 30 

My Grandma's Getting Old, They Say 31 

Fellow Feeling 32 

What Kind of Grandma Do You Like? 34 

Grandma's Stories 35 

A Tea Party 36 

When Grandma Loses Her Specs 38 

G-R-A-N-D-M-A 40 

Contrast 41 

I'll Be Your Valentine 42 

Two Proverbs 43 

The Old Sampler 44 

When Grandma Tucks Me In 45 

A Pertinent Question 46 

The Way Out 48 

The Old And The New 49 

When Grandma Was a Little Girl 50 

Counting The Baby's Toes 52 

Grandma's Young Days 53 

Grandma's Hygiene 54 

Grandma's Prayer 56 

Loneliness 58 

When Grandma Punished Me 60 

Grandma's Lullaby 62 

The Old Willow Basket 64 

Retrospect 66 



(8) 



GRANDMA 



When Grandma Sews 



My Grandma sews so very well ; 

She makes her stitches small and straight. 
While mine look most like 
turkey-tracks 
(But then,, of course, I'm 
only eight). 






My Grandma's thread don't crinkle up; 

It's always smooth and nice like this- 

She often has to help 

with mine, 

But makes me pay 

her with a kiss. 



My Grandma keeps her 
pretty hox 
So neat it's ever a de- 
light, 
While things in mine get 
tossed about 
Until it is a perfect 
sight. 







GRANDMA 



(9) 



My Grandma sews with glasses on ; 

I manage well enough without. 
If seeing were the whole of it, 

I'd learn to sew with ease, no doubt. 



When Grandma sews her 
patch-work blocks, 
She fits her pieces neat 
and true, 



But let me try howe'er so 
hard, 
This is the best that I 
can do. 



CD 



But Grandma pats me on the cheek, 
And tries to cheer me all she can, 

And says, "My dear, how well you sew 
I'm really proud of little Nan." 



(10) 



GRANDMA 



Grandma's Aprons 



Of mornings, till her work is clone, 
She wears a great big gingham one. 
It covers her from waist to shoe, 
And if she ever had to do 
Without it, 'xpect she'd sigh and say, 
"I really cannot work to-day." 

But after-noons, when work is done, 
She wears a nice white starchy one, 
With cunning little bows in place, 
Or maybe it's all trimmed in lace. 
She looks so sweet in this, I say, 
"My ! but you're all fixed up to-day." 

I wonder, when I look at her, 

Which of the aprons I prefer. 

The white one is so nice and neat. 

The gingham means good things to eat. 

But ask me, and I'd likely say, 

"I love her most dressed either way." 



GRANDMA 



(11) 




7/J-VJ*" 

'The white one is so nice and neat.' 




"The gingham means good things to eat.' 



(12) GRANDMA 

Cuddle Time 





^JPlHWtM^ 



"I climb in Grandma's bed. 1 



Each morning, soon as I'm awake, 

Before my prayer is said, 
Or 'fore I'm ever dressed at all, 

I climb in Grandma's bed. 
I put my arms about her neck, 

She puts her arms 'round me ; 
And I just lie so comfy there, 

While Grandma cuddles me. 

She talks to me so soft and low, 

About this "clean, new day" ; 
And what I'd ought to put in it. 

Of study, work and play. 
It really is the queerest thing, 

But true as true can be ; 
It's easy to be good all day, 

'Cause Grandma cuddled me. 



GRANDMA (13) 



Grandma's Errands 



My Grandma Gray is very old, 

And when she sews I'm apt to hear, 
"I find I can't my needle thread, 

Come be my eyes, my dear." 
Or if she tries to go up stairs, 

She'll likely say, " 'Tis very plain 
That I will have to have some aid, 

My dear, just come and be my cane." 

Or if she needs an errand done, 

She'll say, "It is too far, I fear. 
I could not make it there at all, 

Go be my feet, my dear." 
I like sometimes to comb her hair; 

She likes it, too, 'tis very clear, 
For mornings, 'fore she dons her cap, 

She'll call, "Come be my hands, my dear.' 

My Mamma says such kindly deeds 

Are far the best way I could show 
To Grandma, so she'd understand 

Her Grandchild loves her so. 
And Grandma is so nice to me, 

I could not bear to give her pain, 
So that is why I gladly run 

To be her eyes, her hands, her cane. 



(14) GRANDMA 



I'm Grandma's Little Girl 



I'm Grandma's little girl, she says. 

That makes me proud as proud can be. 
She calls me that when I'm dressed up 

And Ma says, "Run, let Grandma see." 

Sometimes she calls me her big girl. 

That makes me, oh, much prouder still. 
'Tis when she's let me do some work, 

(Like fetching drinks when she Is ill.) 



GRANDMA (15) 




"I'm Grandma's little girl." 



(16) GRANDMA 



Herb Tea 



One time I was just awful sick, 

And weak as I could be. 
'Twas when I was at Grandma's house. 

She dosed me with herb tea. 
She didn't call the Doctor man ; 

She said there was no need, 
That I was just a mite run down, 

And kinder off my feed. 

Now usually I fume and fret 

When Mamma calls him in. 
The Doctor gives such awful dope. 

And it tastes worse'n sin. 
If all the stuff I ever took 

Could mixed together be, 
It wouldn't taste one-half as bad 

As Grandma's bitter tea. 

Surprisin', though, how quick it worked 

To make me feel so well. 
If you won't give it all away, 

The reason I will tell. 
Because I found one nasty dose 

Was quite enough for me 
To suit my taste, so I got well 

To dodge another. See? 



GRANDMA (17) 



Tea at Grandma's 



When I go to my Grandma's bouse, she plays I'm 

company, 
And takes my wraps with such an air and says : 

"You'll stay to tea?" 
She gets out her best silver, then — great-Grandma 

Winslow's plate — 
And all her pretty china, and we eat in grandest 

state. 
But when I'm done, although she's made for me 

all that to-do, 
She says: "There childic, run along, so Big Dark 

won't catch you." 



(18) 



GRANDMA 



When Grandma Knits 



My Grandma loves to sit and knit. 

Click, clack, her needles go ; 
While "squeak, squeak" says her rocking chair, 

A-rocking to and fro. 

My Grandma knits such lovely things, 

Mufflers for Tom and Will, 
And bouncy-balls for baby dear 

To help to keep her still; 

And little stockings for my doll, 

And horsey-lines for Ned, 
xVnd wristlets, too, for Jack and Joe 

Of yarn so bright and red, 

And mittens for the very poor, 

And hoods all nicely lined ; 
It seems to me a lot of work, 

But Grandma doesn't mind, 

But only sits and smiles and smiles, 

And knits the live-long day, 
And seems to have a better time 

That I do when I play. 

I like to watch my Grandma knit. 

Click, clack her needles go, 
While "squeak, squeak" says her rocking chair, 

A-rocking to and fro. 



GRANDMA 



(19) 




"But only sits and smiles and smiles, 
And knits the live-long day." 



(20) GRANDMA 



A "Blue" Story 



It stands here on the mantle, 

My Grandma's queer old plate. 
I'd tell to you the story 

I've heard her oft relate, 
Only it's written on it 

As plain as plain can be. 
No need for any telling 

If one has eyes to see. 

A princess has a lover, 

(As most king's daughters do.) 
You see him here a waiting, 

Beneath this tree of blue. 
Blue grass is all around him ; 

A blue sky bends above ; 
And o'er the blue tree's branches 

There hovers a blue dove. 

Far in the blue, dim distance, 

A castle blue you see, 
And shrubs and flowers a growing 

Upon a deep blue lea. 
Blue cows feed in the meadow. 

Blue lambs disport there, too. 
It certainly's unusual, 

This landscape all in blue. 



GRANDMA (21) 



She goes to meet her lover, 

The princess, all in blue. 
What seems so very funny, 

Even her hair's blue, too. 
A boat-man near awaits them. 

His craft a neat blue boat, 
And if they can but reach it, 

They'll safely be afloat. 

The king in blue advances 

Across a blue draw-bridge. 
Their sole way of escaping 

Is up a steep, blue ridge. 
And so the pair just stand there, 

All stiff from fright. And blue ! 
Small wonder they're discouraged, 

What can the poor things do? 



(22) 



GRANDMA 



Christmas Secrets 



I tell mine all to Grandma, 

And she tells hers to me, 
And we have just the mostest fun 

That ever you did see. 

Each time I get a new one, 

I whisper in her ear, 
And Grandma whispers back again, 

And laughs and says, "Dear ! Dear !' 

But I've one now I have to keep. 

I can't tell her, you see. 
I wonder — do you 'spose she might 

Be keeping one from me? 



GRANDMA 



(23) 




"Each time I get a new one, 
I whisper in her ear." 



(24) GRANDMA 



Dancing Dolls 



Sometimes our Grandma'll call us : 

"Come John and little Sue, 
Let's see what my sharp scissors 

Can find to-day to do." 

Then she takes a bit of paper 

And folds it up just so, 
Then slashes with her scissors 

And 'fore our eyes there'll grow 

A row of dogs or horses, 

Or pretty parrot Polls, 
But oh, we like the best of all 

The little dancing dolls. 

They bow and prance and caper, 

All dancing in a row; 
They are such queer, quaint creatures, 

But oh, we love them so. 






GRANDMA 



(25) 




(26) GRANDMA 



HeighSo, 'Tis Her Way! 



Grand-mother, why do you wear a frilly lace cap? 
And why every day must you have your short nap? 
And why, when to the church each fair Sunday 

you go, 
Must the strings of your bonnet be folded just so? 
"Heigh-ho," 

Hear her say, 
" 'Tis my way !" 

Grand-mother, you are so nice to rude girls and 

boys. 
Now, why don't you scold when we make such 

great noise? 
Why give us seed cakes and such good things to 

eat, 
'Till coming to your house is our very best treat? 
"Heigh-ho," 
Hear her say, 
" 'Tis my way !" 



GRANDMA (27) 



"Girls Will Be Girls' 



My Mamma and my Daddy say, 

When we make lots of noise, 
"Such harum-scarum girls you are! 

You're rude as any boys." 

But my Grandma, who's lots older, 
(You'd think she'd be the one 

To fuss and frown at our rough ways) 
Says, "let them have their fun." 

Then she rings-a-rosy with us 

Until my head just whirls, 
And when we stop, she pants, "Heigh-ho! 

You see girls will be girls." 



(28) GRANDMA 



When Grandma Comfys Me 



Sometimes I hurt myself so bad 

When I am at my play, 
That I just simply have to cry. 

If 'taint the bravest way. 

Then I run quick to Mamma, 
But she only says, "Oh, fie! 

You're almost six years old, my dear, 
And far too big to cry." 

And then I go to Grandma. 

She takes me on her knee, 
And gives me bear-hugs in her arms 

As tight as tight can be, 

And says, "There, Grandma's baby. 

Is this the place? do tell! 
I think a little lip-salve, dear, 

Will quickly make it well." 

And then she says, "Now Mr. Bruise, 
Here's kisses, one, two, three," 

And I get well just awful quick 
When Grandma comfys me. 



GRANDMA 



(29) 




'And I get well just awful quick, 
When Grandma comfys me.' 



(30) GRANDMA 



Out at Grandma's 



They is roses out at Grandma's, 
Growin' low an' growin' high. 

I can pick jist all I want to, 
Ner don't have to on the sly. 

They's a well, too, out at Grandma's, 

With a bucket to let down. 
Water's cold enough to freeze you. 

'Taint like what you get in town. 

An' they's green grass out at Grandma's, 

Plenty, growin' all around, 
S' thick that when you waller in it, 

You don't know you're on the ground. 

They is fruit trees out at Grandma's, 
Fruit, too,, on 'em, hangin' thick. 

Grandma says : "Jist help your-self, dear, 
I don't care how much you pick." 

They's a garden out at Grandma's. 

In it's all good things to eat. 
Posies, too, in beds a-growin', 

Edged with cockle shells so neat. 

They is bees, too, out at Grandma's, 
Bees a-buzzin'. Hear 'em hum ! 

Biscuits hot with honey on 'em ! 

Ain't they good ? Oh, yum, yum, yum ! 

When I'm big I'm goin' to have me 
A nice home like Grandma's is. 

An' my kids will get to live there. 
Won't they have the fun? Gee whiz! 



GRANDMA (31) 



My Grandma's Getting Old, They Say 



My Grandma's getting old, they say. 

Her hair is white, her step is slow. 
She never goes a-pleasuring, 

She'd rather sit and knit, or sew. 
Her shoulders stoop and 'thout her specs 

She'd find it hard, indeed, to see. 
My Grandma's getting old, they say. 

But, oh ! She is not old to me. 

My Grandma's getting old they say, 

But, oh ! She is not old to me. 
A finer pal than Grandma is 

I don't believe you'd ever see. 
She mends my toys, and when I like 

She'll play "make calls," or "drinking tea.' 
My Grandma's getting old they say. 

But NEVER will be old to me, 



(32) GRANDMA 



A Fellow Feeling 



Once when I was a little tot 
I was naughty as I could be. 

(I'm 'shamed to tell how bad I was,) 
And my Mamma punished me. 

She set me down upon a chair 
With a frown so cross at me 

And said, "Now, missy, you stay there, 
And you don't get any tea." 

Soon Grandma came and sat down near, 

And she looked so very sad 
I wondered what on earth it meant, 

Had my Grandma, too, been bad? 

And then I said, "Why, Grandma, dear, 

Now wmatever did you do? 
I think things are at pretty pass 

If my Mamma's punished you." 



GRANDMA 



(33) 




'Grandma came and sat down near, 
And she looked so very sad." 



(34) GRANDMA 



What Kind of Grandma Do You Like*! 



What kind of Grandma do you like? 

Mine has soft, silv'ry hair. 
And eyes that twinkle kindly. 

And a brow that's soft and fair. 
She smiles a sort of crinkly smile 

At me when I am good. 
It always makes me try my best, 

And don't you think it would? 

What kind of Grandma do you like? 

Mine gives me sweets and toys. 
And never, never scowls at me 

Or says. "Now hush that noise !" 
What kind of Grandma you may have. 

Or what your choice might be, 
I do not know, but I am sure 

Mine is the one for me ! 



GRANDMA (35) 



Grandmas Stories 



At evening by the fire-light 

We gather 'round her knee. 
There's John and Sam and Jennie. 

And 'course there's always me. 
She tells the finest stories 

A body ever heard. 
We sit so interested 

And never say a word! 

There's one about Queen Esther 

Of course that Jennie likes. 
While John's and Sammle's fancy 

The "Lions' Den" just strikes. 
But I — I pick young David 

Pastin' G'liath with a sling. 
How could he kill a giunt 

With such a little thing? 

Mother tells us dainty tales 

'Bout fairies and all such. 
Daddy tells us hunting ones ; 

We like them very much. 
But Grandma's kind of stories. 

Why,, they help us to be good. 
So always we prefer them, 

And don't you think we should? 



(36) GRANDMA 

A Tea Party 

Sometimes I get so awful cross, 

When it's a rainy day, 
And not a thing I want to do, 

And nothing I can play. 

But soon there cames a gentle rap, 

Right hy me on the wall ; 
And Grandma says, "How do you do? 

I thought I'd come to call. 

How are you, Mrs. Wilson, now? 

Are all the children well? 
This is a welcome rain we have. 

And breaks a long dry spell." 

And then I offer her a chair. 

With just my nicest smile ; 
And say, "I'm glad to see you, ma'am, 

I hope you'll stay awhile." 

And Grandma laughs, "Ah-ha ! I guessed 

That I would welcome be ; 
If this is not too broad a hint, 

I thought I'd stay for tea." 

And then we have the mostest fun, 

And not a thing to eat ; 
But Grandma plays the game so well, 

You'd think we had a treat. 

She says : "These rolls are very fine, 
Why, yes, I'll take some jell. 

Fried chicken! and so nice and brown, 
'Twill suit me more than well. 

And cake ! I never knew before 
How light a cake could be !" 

And "Thank you, yes ma'am, if you please 
Another cup of tea." 

And then she says: "Why bless my heart, 

If there is not the sun ! 
I've had a lovely time, my dear, 

And now I home must run." 



GRANDMA 



(37) 




"And then we have the mostest fun, 
And not a thing to eat!" 



(38) GRANDMA 



When Grandma Loses Her Spec's 



Sometimes when Grandma's sewing, 

She'll stop and say, "Dear me ! 
I had them just a while ago, 

Where can my glasses be?" 
I say, "I'll find them, Grandma/' 

Then I look everywhere ; 
But wouldn't for the world she'd guess 

I know just where they are. 

I hunt around until I am 

So tired I'm almost dead : 
Then laugh and say, "Why Grandma dear. 

They're right there on your head !" 
What d'ye 'spose she tells me then? 

It drives me almost wild, — 
"I do declare ! just every day 

/ grow more like a child!" 



GRANDMA 



(39) 




"I laugh and say, 'Why Grandma dear, 
They're right here on your head.' " 



(40) GRANDMA 



G-R-A-N-D-M-A 



I'm four years old and can't know much. 

I'm proud, though, that I write and spell 
A great big word, and Mamma says 

I really do it very well. 

Course Mamma showed me how to print 
This word — it's letters slow I'll say. 

Can you pronounce it when I've done? 
It's G-r-a-n-d-m-a. 



GRANDMA (41) 



Contrast 



'Tis queer to think of our Grandmas, 
That once they were but little girls, 

And wore their hair in long pigtails, 
Or else in funny, bobbing curls. 

'Tis queer to think they ran and played, 
And laughed and romped in childish glee. 

I wonder if they ever tired, 

And rested on their Mother's knee. 

But sad to think they had to work, 

And learn to sweep, and bake, and mend. 

'Tis painful how they had to sit 

And stitch those long seams without end. 

There's much to envy 'bout those days, 
And much looks most unpleasant, too. 

I think I'd rather live to-day, 

Because there is much less to do ! 



(42) 



GRANDMA 



/'// Be Your Valentine 



I took some paper, pen and ink, 

And tried so hard to make 
A pretty one and write on it 

"For your own dear, sweet sake." 
But soon I found that drawing things 

Is clearly not my line, 
But if you think I'll do for one 

I'll be your valentine. 

Perhaps I should have bought you one 

But cents I had but few, 
And really nothing they would get 

Was good enough for yon. 
I asked Mamma. "Why send such things 

She said : "They are love's sign." 
So, if I can mean that to you, 

I'll be your valentine. 

Of course you may get heaps of 'em : 

I fear, tho', 'cause you're old, 
That folks will think you know their love 

Without a-being told. 
So to make sure you will get one 

That's extra nice and fine, 
Why Grandma, if I'll fill the bill, 

I'll be your valentine. 




GRANDMA (43) 



Two Proverbs 



My Mamma always says to us — 
To me and Tom and Kate — 

"Oh, hurry, hurry, hurry now ! 
To school you will he late ! 

You've heard it often. I am sure 
The proverb you should know 

About the tortoise, and the hare 
Who lost, 'cause he was slow." 

But Grandma always says to us. 

"Now why this anxious haste? 
Try to be calm and cool, my dears. 

Remember, 'haste makes waste.' " 

I am not wise enough to know 
Which way I should prefer 

For living by, but I am sure 
Grandma's is pleasanter! 



(44) GRANDMA 



The Old Sampler 



I found it in the attic, 

All covered o'er with grime. 
Scarce could I read it's letters, 

So faded now by time. 
A queer, old-fashioned sampler, 

My tears bedew each line. 
Grandmother set these stitches. 

When she was "aged nine." 

I seem to see her working 

If I but close my eyes, 
Dear wee one, bravely tackling 

Her stent. So great it's size ! 
With patience rare she wove them, 

These gaudy stitches fine. 
How I love each straggling one ! 

"Cordelia, aged nine." 

The sampler is an heir-loom 

We'll always hold most dear. 
It sets for us the lesson 

That we should persevere. 
Your patience made you saintly, 

Your memory we'll enshrine, 
Your virtues try to copy, 

"Cordelia, aged nine." 



GRANDMA (45) 



When Grandma Tucks Me In 



Mamma puts me to bed o' nights, 
And after I have said my prayers. 

She sits and talks awhile before 

She leaves me and goes back down stairs. 

And when I am about asleep, 

I hear a whisper, "Little Min !" 
And slipping softly to my bed, 

My Grandma comes and tucks me in. 

I'm glad for Mamma's thoughtful care, 
Her talks of goodness and of sin — 

Please don't tell her I could not sleep 
'Thout Grandma came and tucked me in. 



(46) GRANDMA 



A Pertinent Question 



When I contradict my mamma, 

She always says just so: 
"I'm older far than yon, my dear, 

Don't yon think I'd ought to know?" 

Bui whenever mamma spanks me, 
My Grandma shakes her head, 

And says, "No, no, a gentler way ; 
Just you love her hard instead." 

And mamma always says to that: 
"Indeed ! you'd spoil her, though." 

Now Grandma's very, very old, 

Don't you think she'd ought to know 



GRANDMA 



(47) 




"Now Grandma's very, very old, 

Don't you think she'd ought to know?' 



(48) GRANDMA 



The Way Out 



At home my Mamma says : "Oh, shame ! 

You are by far too big 
To gobble : 'sides you'll get too fat. 

Now, don't eat like a pig." 

At Grandma's, Grandma always says ; 

"You are so small, I know 
You'd ought to try out eating more, 

I'd like to see you grow." 

Now maybe both are half way wrong. 

To Grandma I'll indite 
A note : "Please keep me half the time,' 

Then I will grow just right ! 



GRANDMA (49) 

The Old and the New 



My sister had her picture taken 
To-day. It's cute as cute can be. 

Her hair is bobbed, her dress correct. 
It's not in inch below her knee. 

She slipped the picture in the album. 

It happened then that right beside. 
There was a photo of our Grandma. 

Taken the day she was a bride. 

And Grandma's dress was in the fashion : 
That is, 'twas stylish for her day. 

Though, could she step now in our ball-room, 
Sue says, she'd be thought "quite passe." 

Her waist was small ; she wore a bustle ; 

A tiny little fan she bore ; 
Her dress was widened out by hoop-skirts. 

And barely it escaped the floor. 

A cute and dainty little ringlet 

So jauntily hung o'er her ear. 
She looked so odd, and quaint and funny. 

But 'spite of that so very dear. 

They say that girls to-day are silly ; 

The way they dross is most unwise. 
Sue's picture looks as well ;is Grandma's: 

At least it seems to in my eyes. 

Sue says she feels so free, unhampered,. 

And has no bother with her clothes. 
How in the world dear Grandma managed. 

Why surely only goodness knows ! 



(50) GRANDMA 



When Grandma Was a Little Girl 



When Grandma was a little girl 

Her dresses came 'most to the floor 
And over them she used to wear 

A pretty ruffled pinafore. 
Her bonnets, though, were very plain. 

She carried a small reticule 
And wore a little shoulder cape 

Of mornings, when she went to school. 

My Grandma always was most neat, 

Obedient, and good, and true ; 
It was a pleasure, so she says, 

To do as she was told to do. 
And when she sewed she always set 

Her stitches firm and neat and fine ; 
That sampler on the parlor wall 

She worked : "Cordelia, aged nine." 

She pieced a quilt 'fore she was eight, 

'Twas made of white and gay maroon. 
She'd sit most patiently each day 

And stitch the whole long afternoon. 
Her stockings, too, she always knit. 

And turned with skill the hee] and toe. 
She darned and patched — such useful things 

She says, each young girl ought to know. 

When Grandma was a little girl 

She was, I think* so very dear. 
Such eyes ! Such smiles ! Such lovely hair 

This is her picture hanging here. 
I'd like to look as she did then, 

(Such praise, I know, her beauty got) 
But as for doing as she did, 

I really think I'd rather not! 



GRANDMA (51) 




'This is her picture hanging here." 



(52) GRANDMA 



Counting the Baby's Toes 



"Inkum, blinkum, winkum, niddle and nod, 

Every one sweet as a rose." 
Dear Grandmother croons this sleepy-time song, 

Counting the little toes. 

"Lively, frolic, kick-y, upum and go, 

How much fun no-body knows !" 
Dear Grandmother chants this waking-up lay, 

Counting the little toes. 



GRANDMA (53) 



Grandma's Young Days 



Once Grandma was a young lady, she says. 

It's hard to believe, but it's true. 
She showed me a gown she used to wear then, 

All soft, and all lace-y and blue. 

She showed me the fan she carried, which she 

Coquettishly swung to and fro. 
I'd like to have seen her smiles and her frowns 

At Grandpa, who then was her beau. 

She showed me her slippers, spangly and white. 

(So tiny and cute were her feet.) 
I'd like to have seen her glide through a dance. 

Her steps so precise and so neat. 

She showed me the ring Grandpa gave to her 

One evening of love and of bliss. 
I'd like to have seen her young lover plant 

On her brow his chaste, proper kiss. 

She showed me the locket which she used to wear. 

His picture and hers, both inside. 
Were taken, she says, upon the glad day 

She became my Grandpa's young bride. 

Oh, Grandma ! you then were so sweet and so fair 

Of lip, and of cheek and of brow. 
I'd like to have seen you, far different then, 

But not a bit sweeter than now ! 



(54) GRANDMA 



Grandma's Hygiene 



My Mamma says that little girls 

Should eat what makes them strong ; 

That when I eat what injures me, 
I'm doing very wrong. 

She says that pies and cakes and such, 

Are far too rich for me, 
And if I hope to sturdy grow, 

I'll have to let them he. 

But Grandma says to Mamma, "Fie ! 

Let her eat what she craves; 
These squeamish notions going 'round 

Are making people slaves." 

Don't think about yourself at all, 

If you would healthy be. 
I always eat just what I want 

And nothing e'er ails me." 

I don't know which of them is right. 

But this I truly know ; 
When Grandma writes, "Come spend a week,' 

I'm always glad to go. 



GRANDMA (55) 




'When Grandma writes, 'Come spend a week.' 



(56) 



GRANDMA 



Grandma's Prayer 



Each evening when I say my prayer, 

I kneel at Grandma's knee ; 
And Grandma always bows her head, 

And folds her hands like me. 
I thank Him for his loving care, 

As all dear children should: 
And ask Him for His tender grace, 

To help me to be good. 
And Oh. He hears my prayer I know. 
And keeps from me each harmful foe. 

Then Grandma says a little prayer, 

As soon as I am through; 
I fold my hands and bow my head, 

And try to join in too. 
And Oh, the words seem brimming full 

Of faith and love most sweet, 
Although it is a simple prayer. 

And easy to repeat. 
Just: "Father, guard me through the nigh' 
And keep me safe 'till morning light." 

Now Grandma prays, I'm very sure, 

A dozen times a day; 
I often linger near her door. 

To hear what she might say. 
She asks Him for enough of strength 

To help her bear her load : 
And pleads that He will hold her hand, 

As she toils on the road. 
And that He hears and gives her grace, 
We know it by her peaceful face. 

But Oh, I think the sweetest prayer 

I ever heard her pray. 
Is that brief one she says with me. 

At closing of the day. 
It seems to me 'tis good enough 

To whisper when you die; 
And all the angels bright would bend 

To listen from the sky, 
To "Father guard me through the night, 
And keep me safe 'till morning light." 



GRANDMA 



(57) 




'And that He hears and gives her grace, 
We know it by her peaceful face." 



(58) 



GRANDMA 



Loneliness 



Grandma's gone a-visitin', 

And O, my dearie me ! 
I never really knew before, 

How lonesome I could be. 

I mope and mope around the house, 
And do not care to play ; 
And nothing seems to be just right, 
Since Grandma's gone away. 

I miss her apron from it's nail 
Her bible from the shelf ; 

But most of all I think I miss, 
Just dear Grandma herself. 



GRANDMA (59) 




'I mope and mope around the house, 
And do not care to play." 



(60) GRANDMA 

When Grandma Punished Me 

One time out at my Grandifla's house 

I got a naughty spell. 
And Grandma looked so kind o' s'prised, 

And said : '"Louise ! well ! well ! 
That doesn't seem like you at all. 

Whatever shall I do? 
So bad you've been I really think 

I'll have to punish you. 

Now just you stand behind that door 

Till you can better be." 
"It tires me so to stand," I said. 

"And hurts me in the knee." 
•'Try sitting then. Right here's a. place. 

Beside that window there. 
Where you can have the morning sun. 

And plenty of good air." 

"I hate to sit sc-hrunched up." I cried. 

"Why, Grandma, now you know 
That every single time I sit. 

It always cramps me so!" 
"What then," she frowned, "for well you know 

That spanking I won't try : 
I don't believe in it at all." 

"No, ma'am/' I said, "nor I." 

"Dear me ! Dear me !" poor Grandma sighed. 

"That there should come to me 
So sad a time as this when I 

My duty cannot see !" 
I hugged her hard. "Poor thing," I cried, 

"I truly pity you. 
I mustn't worry you like this : 

I'll tell you what to do ! 

Just put me out there 'neath the tree, 

Upon that grassy spot ; 
With cookies three, and make me eat. 

If I want them or not." 
And grandma laughed and looked relieved, 

And brought the cooky pan. 
And said : "I'm glad you thought of that, 

It is the very plan !" 



GRANDMA (61) 




"And Grandma laughed and looked relieved, 
And brought the cooky pan." 



(62) 



GRANDMA 



Grandma's Lullaby 



Bright-eyed stars are peeping 

'Tween the cloudlets white ; 
Calling to the sleepy earth, 

Good-night ! Good-night ! Good-night ! 
Tired little flowers 

Nod their drowsy heads, 
Chicky-bids and birdies, too, 

Long since sought their beds. 
All the world is sleepy, 

Swathed in moonlight white; 
Winds are crooning soft and low, 

Good-night ! Good-night ! Good-night ! 

Sweetly sleep, my dear one, 

Watched by angels bright ; 
Fear shall not disturb thy rest, 

Good-night ! Good-night ! Good-night ! 
Darkness hovers o'er thee, 

Soon will come the light ; 
Breezes waft sweet dreams to thee, 

Good-night ! Good-night ! Good-night ! 



GRANDMA 



(63) 




'All the world is sleepy, 

Swathed in moonlight white." 



(64) GRANDMA 



The Old Willow Basket 



O. poets have sung of the old oaken bucket. 

Like-wise of the bootjack that hung on the wall. 
My lyre I'm attuning to sing of a treasure 

To iny humble notion surpassing them all. 
I speak of the basket my Grandmother cherished. 

And gladly I offer this tribute of praise 
To the dear willow basket, quaint willow basket. 

The old willow basket of Grandmother's days. 

At home it held proudly her mending and knitting. 

Her great balls of worsted and gay colored yarns. 
Her needles and thread, and her latest quilt piecing. 

And even the stockings awaiting her darns. 
In short, a receptacle, useful and handy, 

Revealing her neat and industrious ways, 
Was that blessed old basket, that queer old basket. 

That old willow basket of Grandmother's days. 

When calling she came how we hurried to meet her ! 

With whoops of delight the old basket we'd hail. 
We knew that a store there of lovely surprises 

Its uplifted lid would reveal without fail, 
O, still I can smell the rare odors that greeted 

Our senses from sweet-meats and apples in store 
In that old willow basket, rare willow basket. 

Entrancing old basket that Grandmother bore. 

But now she is gone, as an heir-loom it's left us, 

A cherished reminder of old-fashioned days. 
O me! while we praise, admire and adore them, 

I fear we've not copied her dear, thrifty ways. 
But close in our memory fore'er we'll enshrine it, 

Our voices forever in homage we'll raise 
To that dear willow basket, precious old basket 

That hallowed old basket of Grandmother's days. 



GRANDMA 



(65) 




'The old willow basket 

Of Grandmother's days." 



(66) GRANDMA 



Retrospect 



It's a long, well-beaten track 
That she traces — looking back. 
Thorns and stones beset the way ; 
Clouds obscured each sunny day ; 
Toil was hers, and stern affray, 
Looking back ! 

Pain she sees, and sorrow's rack 
Through a tear-mist — looking back. 
Joy, she says, was there as well; 
Peace beyond what tongue can tell 
Love thanksgivings must impel, 
Looking back ! 

Not a moment did she lack, 
Testifies she — looking back, 
Grace to meet her every need; 
Manna rich her soul to feed, 
Far, she says, beyond her meed, 
Looking back ! 

Peace* we know, she'll never lack, 
As we watch her looking back. 
Peace that glorifies her brow, 
Hovers o'er her dear lips now, 
Till we wonder why and how, 
Looking back! 



GRANDMA 



(67) 




'It's a long, well-beaten track, 
That she traces — looking back." 



